Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Operations Manager – Community Engagement and Enforcement.

The report outlined an overview of City Council Refuse and Environment and Streets and Open Spaces service activity relating to the geographical area served by the West/Central Area Committee.  The report identified the reactive and proactive service actions undertaken in the previous quarter, including the requested priority targets, and reported back on the recommended issues and associated actions. It also included key officer contacts for the reporting of waste and refuse and public realm issues.

In response to Members’ and the public comments and questions the Operations Manager – Community Engagement and Enforcement, said the following:

     i.        Comments on the ‘temporary bins’ which had been on Lamas Land for approximately 18 months needed to be reconsidered for design and permanent location. As such, they would be taken back to the Parks Team for action.

    ii.        Agreed to include regular clearing of leaves along the highways as a priority going forward if the Committee approved.

   iii.        Would enquire if a bin could be installed on Chesterton Lane.

  iv.        Welcomed the positive comments from Members on the work that had been undertaken on Paradise Nature Reserve.

   v.        Noted the comments regarding the increase of litter in Fitzroy Street and Burleigh Street; Enforcement Officers had increased the number of fixed penalty notices for littering in the last quarter. Numerous fines had been issued to local business regarding their breach of statutory waste notices, as well as business being issued notices regarding their waste duty of care.

  vi.        A number of businesses within the city had been issued with the higher range fixed penalties for fly tipping commercial waste where large quantities of waste had been dumped.

 vii.        Meetings had been held with the Police and representatives from County Council’s drugs and alcohol team where an increase in needles had been reported. This information was also e-mailed on a regular basis in-between those meetings with the Police and County Council.

viii.        Unfortunately due to the narrow design of Hobson Passage there was little that could be done regarding the storing of trade bins on the highway. The area was checked on a regular basis by Officers with a number of businesses fined for not taking the correct responsibility of storage.

  ix.        Noted the comment regarding the protractible needles which were safer to regular needles, although the level of rubbish would remain the same.

The Committee discussed the following as additional and revised recommendations for action:

i.      Enforcement and City Ranger patrols in the City Centre to         address issues of illegally deposited trade waste on Fitzroy and Burleigh Street.

ii.     Streets and Open Spaces regular clearing of leaves along the highways

iii.    Dog warden patrols to target irresponsible dog owners on Midsummer Common

iv.    Enforcement patrols to address abandoned vehicles in the Castle Ward

         Following discussion, Members unanimously resolved to approve priorities for action as amended above.